Abbott Northwestern to replace anesthesia provider in 2020

Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital plans to replace its anesthesia provider next year, according to the Star Tribune.

Three details:

1. Thirty-seven physicians and 68 nurse anesthetists from Sunrise, Fla.-based Mednax will continue providing anesthesia services at Abbott Northwestern until the new group, Minneapolis Anesthesia Partners, takes over in June 2020.

2. In a statement to the Star Tribune, Mednax said it asked for more financial and operational support from Abbott Northwestern during contract negotiations because the group was unable to fulfill coverage levels that exceeded patient volumes.

3. Abbott Northwestern began looking for new service providers earlier this year, reportedly in response to concerns about insufficient anesthesia resources at the hospital. The hospital said it had no concerns about the quality of patient care.